System for the electronic data processing of chinese characters

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for electronically processing bits of information, particularly Chinese characters where the information is Chinese characters or the like, the steps comprising digitally converting the Chinese character by means of a 480 point matrix and converting the digitalized character to 120 hexadecimal digit code units.

United States Patent 1191 Yeh 1 June 28, 1974 i 1 SYSTEM FOR THEELECTRONIC DATA 2,613,794 10/1952 Yutang 19751 A E q q 2,940,575 6/1960Khalil 197 1 A PROCESSING OF CHINES CH CTERS 2,950,800 8/1960 Caldwell197/1 A [76] Inventor: Chan-Hue Yeh, 1501 California 3,100,036 8/1963Tdrivmi Ave, Alto, Calif. 94304 3,217,640 11/1965 Bradshaw... Filed y 71973 3,319,516 5/1967 Brown 197/1 A [21] Appl. No.: 357,703 PrimaryExaminer-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-R. T. Rader i ApplicationData Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [63]Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 225,048, Feb. 10,

57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 197/] A, 101/93 C Me h d and apparatus forelectronically processing [51] Int. Cl B41j 3/50 b of o o p t ul rly Chnese characters [58] Field of S arch 197/1, 1 A, 98; 235/145; where theinformation is Chinese characters or the 101/93 C like, the stepscomprising digitally converting the Chinese character by means of a 4 80point matrix and [56] References Cited converting the digitalizedcharacter to 120 hexadeci- UNITED STATES PATENTS ml (11%" 9 2,534,33012/1950 Wong 197/1 A 33 Claims, 28 Drawing Figures CPU PATENTEDJum I974sum 01 or 10 FIG.3A

FIG.2A

FIGJA FIG.2B

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' sum 'U30F10:

Master File Record Number Record(Data) Five-digit I 120 HexadecimalDigits suntan-0000000no.00000000000000.0000...0000.00

01080 01080 '7FOFE 01080 01080 01080 01080 01080 01080 01080 01080 EFOFF00000 00000 00000 PATENTEDJ111128 11111 FIG. 7A

[131 1310 {Bib E 1112 000 010 011 012 013 010 015 01 T 5 5 5 5 K 7 7 0230211- -025020-027' 020 020 030 031 32 T r r f 7' 2% if 3 i 030 0110 01110112 01.3 01111 0115 0110 0117 0110 T I T f f K i 1011 100 107 100 100110 111 112 1 1 1 11 71 11 11 71 E 110 121 122 123 121 125 120 127 120 11 1 1 77 77 75 75 E E PmEmEBmze 19m 3320544 sum as or 10 PATENTEflJunza1914 saw -manna PATENTEDJUH28 1924 SHEET '10 0F 10 FIG.'I3

SYSTEM FOR THE ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING OF CHINESE CHARACTERS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 225,048filed Feb. 10, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel system forelectronic data processing of bits of information, particularly Chinesecharacters, and more particularly to a Chinese typewriter and a teletypemachine for direct Chinese message transmission and switching from onestation to another.

In the prior art, a Chinese typewriter comprises a complex mechanism anda galley in which many lead types are attached. The typist must betrained to memorize the location of each character type positioned onthe galley. This training takes at least four months or more. Inoperation, each character is retrieved physically and mechanically fromthe galley and then stamped on paper one at a time. A well trainedtypist can only type about to 30 characters per minute.

At the present time, in order to send a telegraph in Chinese, the sendermust use a Standard Telegraph Code Book and translate the message into aspecified numerical code. Similarly, the receiver also must use the samereverse procedure to decode the message. This procedure is inefficient,costly and highly inconvenient. Accordingly, there is need for a systemfor electronic data processing of Chinese characters.

Therefore, an electrically operated Chinese typewriter anda computerizedChinese character, in particular, have recently been the subject ofextensive research and development. However, due to inherent problems inprocessing Chinese characters in particular, no digitalized alphabet ofChinese characters being conveniently and simply stored and noarrangement, classification or organization of Chinese characters beingprovided for quick and easy access, a practical automated orcomputerized Chinese typewriter is still not commercially available.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention toprovide a novel system particularly suitable for electronic dataprocessing of Chinese characters.

It is another objectof this invention to provide a novel Chinesecharacter typewriter and a teletype machine for direct Chinese messagetransmission and switching from one remote station to another.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a systemwhichrevolutionizes Chinese character typing and Chinese character telegraphoperation, and which eliminates the necessity of coding and decodingopera tions used in present Chinese telegraph systems.

These andother objects are attained by this invention which, in apreferred form, comprises a system wherein each Chinese character isdigitalized by means of a 20x24 matrix (480 grid points) and simplifiedby being converted into a code unit of I20 hexadecimal digits, andselectively stored in a master file within a direct access storageapparatus. A keyboard is provided for quick access to the master file.Under the keyboard a motor driven reference character sheet is disposedwith the characters grouped thereon according to the order of theChinese phonetic alphabet. By appropriate keying of selected buttonscorresponding to certain groups, sections and characters, mechanismwithin the apparatus retrieve code units for corresponding charactersfrom the master file. Printing means are provided for printing out thecharacters which are retrieved. The printing means comprises a twentyfour wire printing head which is selectively actuated in accordance withthe retrieved code units to print the corresponding characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. IA is a Chinese character Pei, meaningNorth;

FIG. 1B depicts a digitalized form of the Chinese character Pei as shownin FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C depicts a binary representation of the digitalized charactershown in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 1D depicts the hexadecimal equivalent of the binary digits shown inFIG. 1C;

FIG. 2A depicts another Chinese character Ying meaning Eagle,representing a typical long pattern of Chinese characters;

FIG. 2B depicts the digitalized form of the character Ying, shown inFIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C depicts the binary representation of the digitalized charactershown in FIG. 28;

Fig. 2D depicts the hexadecimal equivalent of the binary digits shown inFIG. 2C;

FIG. 3A depicts another Chinese character Tieh, meaning Iron,"representing a typical wide pattern of Chinese characters;

FIG. 3B depicts the digitalized form of the Chinese character Tieh, asshown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C depicts the binary representation talized character shown inFIG. 3B;

FIG. 3D depicts the hexadecimal equivalent of the binary digits shown inFIG. 3C;

FIG. 4 depicts a chart showing a preferred organization of a portion ofdigitalized characters organized in accordance with the presentinvention, wherein the Chinese characters are divided into four groups,each group comprising sections, each section comprising 15 characters,and each character being digitalized in the form of code units ofhexadecimal digits;

FIG. 5 depicts a form of a master file for the code units in accordancewith this invention;

Hg. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a novel system for electronic dataprocess of Chinese characters according to this invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are plan views of the right and left parts of a keyboardpanel showing four push-buttons for character group selection, I60push-buttons for section selection, and I5 push-buttons for characternumber selection;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side elevation of the combination of the keyboardpanel and the character reference sheet with associated parts beingomitted for clarity; FIG. 9 is a partialperspective view of thecharacter reference sheet;

FIG. 9A is a partial perspective view of a modified embodiment of theterminal unit and keyboard according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a section on line 9A--9A of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 9C is a perspective view of a character sheet arof thedigirangement for use with the embodiment of FIGS. 9A

FIG. 9D is a partial perspective view of another modified embodiment ofthe terminal unit and keyboard according to the present invention.

FIG. is a perspective view of a Chinese matrix printer;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical connection betweenthe buffer and matrix pring head;

FIG. 11A is a side view of the matrix print head of FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure inside a print headcomprising 24 pieces of fine wire with only one piece of printing wirebeing shown for clarity; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a terminal unit and keyboard of anothermodified embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the followingdescription, the method and apparatus are disclosed as being forhandling of Chinese characters. However, as will be apparent from thisdescription, the method and apparatus can be used to handle othersimilar information which can be grouped and represented in a similarfashion.

DIGITALIZATION OF CHINESE CHARACTERS An important aspect of thepreferred embodiment of this invention is that the Chinese charactersused in the typewriter of the invention are digitalized by means of ax24 matrix (480 grid points), and each digitalized character is, inturn, represented by 120 hexadecimal digits.

Referring now to FIGS. IA lD, a Chinese character pei is shown. TheChinese character is superimposed in discrete form, i.e., in the form ofdots, on a matrix of 20x24 grid points as shown in FIG. 1B. Then thecharacter is digitalized, i.e., the points on the grid are representedin binary form as shown in FIG. 1C with the points occupied by dotshaving one binary form and the unoccupied points having the other binaryform. For simplicity, the binary form of the character is, in turn,converted into a hexadecimal form in a conventional manner, as shown inFIG. 1D.

Similarly, FIGS. 2A-2D and FIGS. 3A-3D depict other examples of typicallong and wide patterns of Chinese characters, respectively. CharacterYing, shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, requires a mininum of 24 rows for sufficientclarity, although it only takes 16 out of 20 columns in the matrix. Thecharacter Tieh, shown in FIGS. 3A-3D, requires a minimum of 20 columnsfor sufficient clarity.

A COMPUTERIZED FILE SYSTEM FOR THE DIGITIZED CHINESE CHARACTERS Havingdigitalized all Chinese characters and converted them into hexadecimalform, a computerized file system is then established by arranging thedigitalized Chinese characters according to the standard 37 ChinesePhonetic Alphabets. The thus converted characters are stored in adirect-access storage device in an electronic data processing systemaccording to the arrangement of the file system, such that they can beretrieved with ease.

According to the present invention, digitalized Chinese characters arearranged in four groups. Each group has a capacity of 2,400 characters.It is to be noted that 7,773 Chinese characters are considered to becurrently in use. The most widely used 2,400 characters are organized asthe first group. The less used 2,400 characters are organized as thesecond group, etc. The least used characters are organized as the fourthgroup. Also, special characters which are not currently in use but areof special interest in a particular field, such as financial, medical,scientific, engineering, etc., can be placed in the fourth group. Up to2,128 special characters can be placed in the fourth group.

Each group of 2,400 characters is divided into 160 sections. Eachsection has 15 characters of the same Standard Chinese PhoneticSyllable. The 160 sections are arranged in alphabetical order accordingto the Standard 37 Chinese Phonetic Alphabets.

Reference is made to FIGS. 7A and 7B which show a Group No. 1represented schematically. The 160 rectangles 131a are for the sectionwithin Group No. l, and, in actual practice, each section has 15characters therein, as shown in section 016 in the upper right-handcorner of FIG. 7A. It will be seen that section 016 is in a subgroup131b, outlined in solid lines, of six sections, sections 014-016 and030-032, all of which form one of the 37 phonetic subgroups in thephonetic alphabet. This is indicated in the figure in the individualsections by the Chinese symbol for this part of the phonetic alphabet.Other subgroups are outlined and in the drawing the sections contain theChinese symbols for the other parts of the phonetic alphabet. In actualpractice, each section will contain l5 Chinese characters, just as doessection 016 in the drawing.

The character pei in FIG. 1 appears at position 5 in Group 1, Section016 in FIG. 7A. Thus, for example, the character pei in FIGS. 1 and 7Awould appear in the file system in Group No. 1, Section 01 6, CharacterNo. 5, with a five digit file system number 10165, where the first digit1 is the Group Number, the second, third and fourth digits together arethe Section Number 016, and the fifth digit is the Character Number 5within the particular section. In FIG. 4, the fifth digit, which can bea single digit number or a two digit number, is handled as a hexadecimaldigit. Thus, the fifth character will require only one digit space. Themaster file, as shown in FIG. 5, is created by entering the data for thedigitized character in the storage device of an EDP system in the formof input data cards or other similarly known means. In order to providequick and easy access to the master file, such that the digitalizedcharacter can be retrieved, the following techniques and apparatus ordevices have been developed.

The reason that four is the number of groups into which the charactersare divided is that the decimal numbers from 1 to 4 can be representedby four bits in a binary system. The reason that 15 is the number ofcharacters per section 131 is that the decimal numbers from I to 15 canbe represented by four bits in the binary system. The numbers of thesections within a group can be represented by eight bits in the binarysystem. Although only 160 sections have been provided in the disclosedembodiment, it. will be clear to those skilled in the art that witheight bits, up to 256 decimal numbers can be represented. Therefore, thenumber of sections within any group can be increased up to 25 6.

The total number of bits by which the file system number can berepresented is thus seen to be 14, so that any file system number inbinary form can be divided into two seven-bit groups. These groups arein conformity with the American Standard Code for InformationInterchange (ASCII), in which information in binary form is transmittedand receivedin seven-bit groups.

A SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING CHINESE TYPEWRITER OPERATIONS The system forretrieving and utilizing characters according to the present inventionis shown in FIG. 6, and compriese a terminal unit connected to a CPU(central processing unit) which in turn is connected to a direct accessstorage device 21, such as a disk in which themaster file system isstored. It is to be understood that the CPU 20 is preferably aconventional computer which is programmed to (a) search switches on akeyboard, to be described hereinafter, to detect which switches areclosed and to derive the file system number from the closed switches;(b) retrieve the data for the digitalized data for the charactercorresponding to a file system number from the storage device; (c)convert the hexidecimal digit data to binary form; (d) feed theconverted data to a buffer storage means and control the buffer storagemeans for driving a matrix printer and a character display unit, both tobe described hereinafter; and (e) to convert the file system number tothe ASCII code and transmit and receive such code and reconvert receivedcoded file system numbers for use in retrieval from the storage device.The CPU can thus have transmission lines 22 connected thereto which canbe connectedto a like system,'and the CPU can transmit and receive ASCIIcoded file system numbers to and from said lines. It is thus seen thatthe system has communications capability. The terminal unit 10 is ameans for supplying a signal representing a file system number and isconnected to CPU 20 through communications lines 30. It will beappreciated that more than one terminal unit 10 can share the same CPU20, if desired.

The terminal unit includes character display unit 11, keyboard 13 andChinese character printer 14. Item 12 can be another display unit.

CHARACTER DISPLAY UNIT The character display unit 11 may be either aconventional cathode ray tube (CRT) type of device or a conventionaldisplay matrix utilizing light emitting diodes. In the use of a CRTdevice, the minimum resolution is preferably 4,096 points per squareinch. In the case of a display matrix using light emitting diodes, thematrix should be 20 24 matrix grid points per character corresponding tothe digitalized Chinese character matrix. In either case, there ispreferably a buffer storage means in the display unit 11 which may havea capacity of 450 characters for display data and 50 characters forsystem use. The initial position of the character to be displayed can beselected and adjusted with respect to the vertical and horizontalposition by conventional cursor buttons among the operationalpushbuttons 136-140 on the keyboard 13.

KEYBOARD The keyboard 13, shown in FIGS. 6, 7A, 7B and 8, comprises aswitch means such as push-buttons 134-134. for character Groupselection, I60 switch means such as push-buttons 131-131 for Sectionselection, l5 switch means such as push-buttons 133-133 for characternumber selection, and switch means such as push-buttons 132, 134, 135,136, 137, 138, 139 and for operational use. The respective switch meansare connected to the CPU 20 for supplying thereto a signal representinga part of the file sys tem number corresponding to the push-button. Forexample, to supply a signal for pei of FIG. 1, pushbutton 1 of buttons134 is pressed and sends a signal representing the first or group digitof the file system number. Then push-button 131. for section 016 ispushed andthen push-button 5 of push-buttons 133 is pushed to sendsignals representing the second through the fifth digit and the sixthdigit of the file system number, respectively.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, a character reference sheet 16 is provided for eachgroup of sections, there being four reference sheets 16. The sheets arepositioned relative to the push-buttons 131 so that there is one sectioncorresponding to each push-button. Preferably, the reference sheets arejoined to each other in a continuous endless belt and are placed arounda set of motor driven rollers 17-17 (the motor not being shown)controlled by group push-buttons 134 and located under keyboard 13.Push-buttons 131 are transparent and display the sections on therespective sheets therethrough. In this manner, the sheet for any one ofthe four character groupscan be caused to move into position underpushbuttons 131 by pressing the corresponding push button group buttons134-134 (see FIGS. 6, 7A and 78). Preferably indicating lightspositioned in group buttons 134-134 will be turned on when the buttonsare pressed to indicate that certain groups are being used.

By searching through the section push-buttons 131-131, any one of the2,400 characters for a given group can be read from the characterreference sheet 16 positioned under the keyboard panel 13. As can beseen from FIG. 6, all of the 160 section push-butt0ns 131-131 are in theform of a magnifying lens to enable clear reading of the characters.

When a Section button 131 is pressed, a three digit number is generatedto indicate which section is selected. The three digit number for agiven section then becomes the middle three digits of the five digitfile system number.

Having selected a Section, any particular character within the sectioncan be selected by pressing the Character Number button 133-133 locatedon the keyboard according to the position of the character in thatsection (see FIGS. 7A and 7B).

When a particular Character Number button 133 is pressed, a digit isgenerated to indicate which number is pressed, and if desired, apush-button 132 can be provided which is pushed after pushing any one ofpushbuttons 133 to produce an EOB (End of Block) 132 code signal. Notethat on the keyboard the Character Number push-buttons 133-133 aredesignated as l, 2, 14, 15. Internally, however, a signal representing asingle hexadecimal digit 1, 2, 9, A, B, C, D, E or F is generated. ThisCharacter Number digit then becomes the last digit of the five-digitfile system number identifying the desired character in the storagedevice.

Thus, for a given character in the Character Reference Sheet 16, thereis a one-to-one correspondence for signal representing the five digitfile system number sent from the keyboard 13 and thefive-digit filesystem number for the code unit in the storage device 21 for thatparticular character.

All push-buttons on the keyboard may be constructed utilizing printedcircuit technology so that there is no obstacle under the keyboard panelto prevent movement of character reference sheets 16.

In addition, in accordance with the invention, the quick directoperation by the operator to look up all sections of characters sharingthe same part of the Chinese phoentic alphabet is facilitated bycoloring the panel with various colors for various parts of thealphabet. All sections under the same part of the phonetic alphabetwould have the same color. For example, in FIGS. 7A and 73, on the topright comer there are six sections which are designated as sections 014,015, 016, 030, 031, and 032 and have characters having the same initialsound and these can have the same color, e.g., red. Note that otherlight colors such as ivory and beige may be used.

An alternative arrangement is shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B in which thekeyboard 13 on the terminal unit 10 is comprised of a plurality ofsimple pressure sensitive switches 231, which preferably have lightsincorporated therein which are turned on when the switch is actuated. AU-shaped channel frame 232 is provided around the sides and bottom ofthe area occupied by the switches 231, the individual members of theframe having a cross-section in which a vertical portion 232a extendsupwardly from the surface of the keyboard and a horizontal portion 232bextends horizontally from the upper end thereof. A character sheet 233is provided which has printed thereon sections having the characterswithin the sections in the same manner as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and7B. The character sheet 233 fits removably into the U-shaped channelframe 232 and the printed sections overlie corresponding switches 231,so that simple finger pressure on the sheet on a desired sectionactuates the switch therebeneath, and the section of the sheet isilluminated from beneath by the light in the switch. The remainder ofthe keyboard 13 is the same as in the embodiment of FIG. 6.

The character sheet 233 is at least opaque, and can be printed with onegroup on one side, or can have one group on one side and a second groupon the other side. In order to have four groups available, it will benecessary to have a minimum of two sheets.

In order to have the two sheets in convenient form so that the operatorcan shift from one group to another quickly, a combined character sheet234 can be provided, as shown in FIG. 9C. The sheet has two sheetportions 234a and 234b secured at the transverse centerlines to formwhat is essentially a four page booklet. It will be appreciated that byproperly printing the sections on the various pages, by opening thebooklet to the centerfold one group can be displayed, by opening thebooklet to between the first and second pages, a second group can bedisplayed, by opening the booklet to between the third and fourth pagesa third group can be displayed, and by turning the booklet over a fourthgroup can be displayed on the outside faces of pages l and 4. All fourgroups of sections can thus be combined in one handy character sheetwhich can be slipped into the U-shaped frame 232 very easily.

Another alternative arrangement is shown in FIG. 9D in which thekeyboard has the same pressure sensitive switches 231 thereon, butinstead of the frame 232 it has a plurality of fastening means aroundthe periphery of the area occupied by the switches. The fastening meansare shown here as simple posts 235 for insertion through correspondingapertures 236 in the comers of sheet 233. However, the fastening meanscould also be simple spring clips or the like, under which the upperedge of the sheet could be held, or could be magnets for attractingmagnet means on the sheet.

CHINESE CHARACTER MATRIX PRINTER Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown aperspective view of a Chinese matrix printer according to the invention,in which a paper 141 which is to have characters printed thereon isinserted around a roller 142 rotated in response to printing head 144reaching the end of each row and contained in body 143 of the printer.It is appreciated that the matrix print head 144 is an essential part ofthe system.

As shown in FIG. 11, matrix print head 144 comprises 24 pieces of finewire 150 (only two of which are shown), such as stainless steel wire,with a diameter of 0.010 inch, each having a wire pin 152 and wire drive153 (see also FIG. 12). Each wire 150 is operatively connected to itsassociated wire pin 152 which is actuated by wire driver 153 which is,in turn, electrically connected to buffer storage means in display unit11, the buffer storage means here being designated 146, through register147 by conductors 148-448 and -145. They are operated in response tosignals from buffer storage means 146 (see FIG. 11), wherein a and brepresent 20 points on a row and 24 points in a column of the matrixgrid, respectively.

In this way, each of the print wires can be actuated electromechanicallyand electronically. 24 pieces of wire are arranged in a linecorresponding to one column of each digitized Chinese character (seeFIG. 11A). In particular, the ends 151 of wires (as viewed in FIG. 11Afrom the ends of wires 150) represent a column of 24 grid points of adigitized character. In other words, all of the wires are actuatedsimultaneously and one column of dots forming part of a character isprinted simultaneously. When less than all the wires are actuated, onlyparts of the column are printed. Thus, matrix print head 144 will printthe digitalized Chinese character one column at a time from left toright. The data for the dots in the column, which together form thepattern of a character and number of characters to be printed per line,is obtained from display buffer storage means 146.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of a single printer wire 150 withinprint head 144, one end of which is free and normally held in thesurface of the printing head out of contact with the surface of paper141 by the force of spring 154 between retainer a flonge on a wire pin152. A stop 1.56 on wire pin 152 limits movement of wire pin 152, andthus wire 150, away from the paper 141. A wire driver 153 is mounted ona support member 157. When wire driver 153 is actuated for example bysolenoid or fluidic means, wire pin 152 and wire 150 are pushed, and end151 of wire 150 projects out of surface of print head 144 and intocontact with the surface of paper 141 to form a dot as part of thepattern in accordance with the data obtained from display buffer storagemeans 146.

It should be pointed out that the scale of the print head shown in FIG.12 is considerably enlarged for the purpose of clarity. In practice,each wire is about 0.010 inch in diameter and the total length of theline of 24 9 pieces of wire would be about 0.24 inch. In a length of 1/4inch for the line of wires there is some clearance for the lubricationof the wires.

There are two conventional styles of writing Chinese documents. One ishorizontally from left to right and then from top to bottom. The otheris vertically from top to bottom and from right to left. The CPU isprogrammed for supplying data for the character to the buffer storagemeans 146 in either style, and the proper program is selected bypressing the vertical or the horizontal buttons 139 or 137 on keyboard13.

1f the vertical style is selected, the matrix printer will print thedocument as if it is for horizontal style except one character from eachvertical line is printed and then from left to right. As far as theprinter is concerned, it is not aware of which style is to be or beingprinted, for it simply follows the bit pattern in the display bufferstorage means 146. The pattern in which the data is placed in the bufferstorage means 146 determines the style.

TYPING PROCEDURE AND DATA FLOW Style Selection Enter either horizontalstyle or vertical style through the buttons 137 or 139 located onkeyboard 13. A but ton light can be provided which will be turned on toindicate which style is being typed.

Display Position Adjustment The vertical and horizontal Display buttons141i and 138 on the keyboard 13 are coupled to the display device 11 toadjust the location of the character to be displayed on the displaydevice 11 to the desired position by conventional control means.Character Group Selection 7 The operator quickly determines which one ofthe four groups to which the desired character belongs and then pressesthe proper button 134 on the keyboard. The button light will be turnedon to indicate which group of characters is selected for typing. At thesame time, the motor driven rollers 17-17 will move the CharacterReference Sheet 16 under the keyboard 13 to a pre-determined positionsuch that the entire group of characters can be read through thetransparent push buttons 131131. And simultaneously, a signalrepresenting digit 1, 2, 3 or 4, depending upon which group is selected,is generated and sent to the buffer storage means 146 to become thefirst digit of a five-digit file system number.

Section Selection The operator quickly determines the Chinese PhoneticSymbol for the desired character and then goes to the subgroup ofsections which share the same part of the Chinese phonetic alphabet andthen scans through the windows 131-431 in the subgroup for the desiredcharacter. Once the desired character is located in a section of theCharacter Reference Sheet 16, the Section button 131 is pressed. Athree-digit number corresponding to the section number is generated andsent to the buffer storage means 146 to become the middle three-digitsof a five digit file system number. Character Number Selection Theoperator presses one of the 15 Character number push buttons 133 toselect the desired character in the section. The Character NUmber pushbuttons 133-133 are arranged on the keyboard 13 in physical positionscorresponding to the positions of the characters within the sections oncharacter reference sheet 116. At the same time, a hexadecimal digitnumber is generated and sent to the buffer storage means 146 to becomethe fifth digit of the five digit record number. In a practicalembodiment, the buffer storage means 146 then generates a signal toinform the CPU 20 that a desired character with the file system numberin the buffer storage means 146 is wanted. The CPU control program thencauses the CPU to take the file system number from the buffer storagemeans and retrieve from the storage device 21 the 1.20 hexadecimaldigits for the desired character and send them to the bufier storagemeans 146 in the display device 11 and the digitalized Chinese characteris displayed. The process continues until either a page of document iscompleted or the 450 character buffer storage means is filled, whicheveroccurs first.

Print The operator presses the Print button 135 on the keyboard and allcharacters on the display device 11 are printed on the matrix printer 14and a hard copy is obtained.

Typing Example 1 Suppose the character Pei"or North shown above is thedesired character to be typed. Since thisis a widely used character, theoperator quickly determines it to be in Character Group 1. Hence, theoperator presses 1 button 134 under Character Group. The operator thenquickly determines the Standard Chinese Phonetic Symbol for thischaracter which isg f The operator then scans through Sections 131a inthe subgroup 131 in the top right hand corner of the keyboard 13, asseen in FIG. 7A, and finds the desired character in section 016 in thesecond row, second line, corresponding to character number button 133,which is in position 5, in FIG. 7B.

The operator then presses the Section button 131 which is for section016 and then presses Character Number Button 133, corresponding toposition 5. Since the desired character is in the No. 5 position, a fivedigit file system number 10165 is generated from the keyboard which isthe file system number for the desired character Pei stored in the formof hexadecimal digits. The data is then retrieved from storage andplaced in display buffer storage means 146 for printing by the matrixprinter 14.

CHINESE TELETYPE SYSTEM FOR MESSAGE TRANSMISSION AND SWITCHING As shownin FIG. 6, the terminal unit 10 which is connected to CPU 20 viacommunications lines 30 is for a Chinese Typing System according to thepresent invention. Several terminal units 10 can be connected to the CPU21) via communications lines 30.

If the transmission and switching of a Chinese character message isdesired,the operator simply types the message as if it is a regulartyping operation except after the entire message is finished anddisplayed on the display device 11, the operator presses a transmissionbutton 136 on the keyboard 13, causing it to generate a signal whichcauses the program in the CPU 20 to carry out transmission of the filesystem numbers. The first thing the transmission program does is to senda message to the sending terminal Enter Receiving Terminal Number, whichis displayed on the display device or buffer storage means 146 (see FIG.11). The operator on the sending terminal then enters the receivingterminal number through the Character Number buttons 133-133 on thekeyboard 13 and then presses EOB key. The message handling controlprogram in the CPU 20 then reads in the message from the display bufferstorage means 146 of the sending terminal l and checks whether'thereceiving terminal is busy. If not, the message is transmitted to thebuffer storage means 146 of the receiving terminal. Thus, transmissionand switching of a Chinese character message from one terminal toanother is completed. Alternate Typing System An alternate typing systemcan be provided in which the 160 section push buttons 131-131 on thekeyboard 13 and the display device 11 are eliminated, as shown in FIG.13. The capacity of the buffer storage means for the terminal is reducedto 50 characters. The Character Reference Sheet 16 is displayed directlyin front of the operator, for example through a window 240. Anadditional push button 241 for the digit zero 0 is added to the 15character push-buttons 133-133. Otherwise, the buttons are the same asin FIG. 6. In operation, the operator selects the Group Number, and thenenters the Section Numbers, as well as the Character Number through the16 numeric buttons 133, 241 (0, 1, 2, 15), in accordance with thisembodiment of the ivnention. Thus, instead of pressing the Sectionbutton 131 to generate the three digit section number, the sectionnumber is now entered manually through the numeric buttons 133 and 241.The alternate typing system is to enter the file system Number for thedesired character one character at a time and is printed on the matrixprinter 14 on a one to one basis.

Alternate Message Switching System As in the alternate typing system,the character is entered as well as transmitted and switched onecharacter at a time in the alternate message switching system. Thesection push buttons and display device are eliminated in the alternatesystem. The section number is entered manually through the numericbuttons.

It should be noted that the master file can be stored in aRead-Only-Storage (ROS) memory device as a stand alone typing system.

The foregoing is intended to be only illustrative of the principles ofthe invention. Numerous modifications and variations thereof would beevident to the worker skilled in the art. All such modifications andvariations are to be considered to be within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Alternate Message Switching System As in the alternate typing system,the character is entered aswell as transmitted and switched onecharacter at a time in the alternate message switching system. Thesection push buttons and display device are eliminated in the alternatesystem. The section number is entered manually through the numericbuttons.

It should be noted that the master file can be stored in aRead-Only-Storage (ROS) memory device as a stand alone typing system.

principles of the invention. Numerous modifications and variationsthereof would be evident to the worker skilled in the art. All suchmodifications and variationsare to be considered to be within the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A means for storing, retrieving and reproducing individual charactersin a large number of characters, comprising a plurality of sheets equalto a number of relatively large groups of the characters in which groupsthe characters are according to the frequency with which the charactersare used, each sheet having a plurality of sections arranged thereon andeach section having a relatively small number of characters therein eachhaving a common characteristic, a keyboard having thereon a firstplurality of switches equal in number to the number of sheets, a secondplurality of switches equal in number to the number of sections andarranged on said keyboard in the same arrangement as said sections arearranged on said sheets, and a third plurality of switches equal innumber to the number of characters in a section and arranged on saidkeyboard in the same arrangement as said characters are arranged in saidsections on said sheets, means for placing said sheets in juxtapositionwith said second plurality of switches with the sections on the sheetsin positions corresponding to the positions of said switches, meansconnected to the respective switches for generating a signal when therespective switches are actuated, whereby a signal representative of afile system number including the group, the section and the position ofthe character in each section for the characters on the sheets isgenerated when switches for the respective group, section and positionfor each character are actuated, a storage means for storing code unitsrepresentative of the characters according to a file system in whicheach code unit is assigned the corresponding file system number, accessand retrieval means coupled between said signal generating means forsaid switches and storage means for gaining access to said storage meansand retrieving the code units for characters corresponding to the filesystem numbers from said signal generating means, and characterrepresenting means coupled to said access and retrieval means forreceiving therefrom the code units for the retrieved characters andrepresenting the characters in visible form.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which there are four sheets and fourswitches in said first plurality of switches, and 15 characters in eachsection and l5 switches in said third plurality of switches.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the characters are Chinesecharacters, and there are four groups of characters and four switches insaid first plurality of switches, there are I60 sections and switches insaid second plurality of switches, and there are 15 characters in eachsection and 15 switches in said third plurality of switches.

4. Means as claimed in claim 3 in which the sections on said sheets arearranged in subgroups according to the Chinese phonetic alphabet.

5. Means as claimed in claim 4 in which the areas of the sheets occupiedby the subgroups of sections are difi'erent colors.

6. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which said sheets are connectedtogether in a continuous length, and

means beneath said keyboard for moving said continuous length beneathsaid keyboard for positioning sheets beneath the keyboard, said switchesin said first plurality being coupled to said moving means forcontrolling said moving means for moving the length to position thesheet corresponding to the respective switches beneath the keyboardaccording to which switch is actuated, said keyboard having transparentportions corresponding to each switch for viewing the sections on therespective sheets through the keyboard.

7. Means as claimed in claim 6 in which said switches have transparentactuators as a part thereof, and said sheets have the sections thereonpositioned immediately beneath the transparent actuators when they areplaced in juxtaposition with said switches.

8. Means as claimed in claim 7 in which said actuators are magnifyinglenses.

9. Means as claimed in claim l in which said switches are pressuresensitive switches, and said keyboard has means thereon for positioningsaid sheets one at a time over said switches, whereby finger pressure byan operator on the sheet over the switches is sufficient to actuateswitches corresponding to the sections on the sheets.

10. Means as claimed in claim 9 in which said switches have lightstherein and said sheets are opaque, whereby light from the switches canshine through the sheet when a switch is actuated by pressure on thesheet.

11. Means as claimed in claim 9 in which said positioning means on saidkeyboard comprises a U-shaped channelframe around the sides and bottomof the keyboard for receiving the sheets.

12. Means as claimed in claim 9 in which said sheets are individualsheets which are held by said positioning means one at a time.

13. Means as claimed in claim 9 in which said sheets are attached toeach other in the form of a booklet.

14. Means as claimed in claim l in which said storage means stores codeunits which are representations of the characters in discrete form on amatrix of grid points.

15. Means as claimed in claim 14 in which the code units are hexidecimalforms of binary digitalized discrete characters, and said access andretrieval means comprises means for converting the code units from thehexidecimal form to the binary form.

16. Means as claimed in claim 14 in which the character representingmeans is a matrix printer.

17.. Means as claimed in claim 16 in which said matrix printer comprisesmeans for printing dots on a matrix grid of twenty by twenty-four gridpoints, and said code units received from said access and retrievalmeans are binary digitalized discrete characters on a matrix of twentyby twenty-four grid points which can be printed by said matrix printer.

18. Means as claimed in claim l further comprising a buffer storagemeans coupled between said access and retrieval means and said characterrepresenting means for storing code units and control means on saidkeyboard coupled to said buffer storage means for feeding stored codeunits to said-character representing means under control of said controlmeans.

19. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which said character representingmeans comprises a cathode ray type display device.

20. Means as claimed in claim l in which said character representingmeans comprises a cathode ray type display de ice, coupled to saidaccess and retrieval means, a matrix printer, a buffer storage meanscoupled between said access and retrieval means and said matrix printer,and control means on said keyboard coupled to said buffer storage meansfor controlling the buffer storage means to feed stored code units tosaid matrix printer.

21.. A means for generating signals corresponding to tile system numbersfor character in a large number of characters, comprising a plurality ofsheets equal to a number of relatively large groups of the characters inwhich groups the characters are according to the frequency with whichthe characters are used, each sheet having a plurality of sectionsarranged thereon and each section having a relatively small number ofcharacters therein each having a common characteristic, a keyboardhaving thereon a first. plurality of switches equal to the number ofsheets, a second plurality of switches-equal to the number of sectionsand arranged on said keyboard in the same arrangement as said sectionsare arranged on said sheets, and a third plurality of switches equal innumber to the number of characters in a section and arranged on saidkeyboard in the same arrangement as said characters are arranged in saidsections on said sheets, means for placing said sheets in juxtapositionwith said second plurality of switches with the sections on the sheetsin positions corresponding to the positions of said switches, and meansconnected to the respective switches for generating a signal when therespective switches are actuated, whereby a signal representative of atile system number including the group, the section and the position ofthe character in each section for the characters on the sheets isgenerated when switches for the respective group, section and positionfor each character are actuated.

22. Means as claimed in claim Zll in which there are four sheets andfour switches in said first plurality of switches, and fifteencharacters in each section and fifteen switches in said third pluralityof switches.

23. Means as claimed in claim 21 in which the characters are Chinesecharacters, and there are four groups of characters and four switches insaid first plurality of switches, there are 160 sections and 160switches in said second plurality of switches, and there are 15characters in each section and 15 switches in said third plurality ofswitches.

24. Means as claimed in claim 23 in which the sections on said sheetsare arranged in subgroups accord ing to the Chinese phonetic alphabet.

25. Means as claimed in claim 24!- in which the areas of the sheetsoccupied by the subgroups of sections are different colors.

26. Means as claimed in claim Zll in which said sheets are connectedtogether in a continuous length, and means beneath said keyboard formoving said continuous length beneath said keyboard for positioningsheets beneath the keyboard, said switches in said first plurality beingcoupled to said moving means for controlling said moving means formoving the length to position the sheet corresponding to the respectiveswitches beneath the keyboard according to which switch is actuated,said keyboard having transparent portions corresponding to each switchfor viewing the sections on the respective sheets through the keyboard.

27. Means as claimed in claim 26 in which said switches have transparentactuators as a part thereof, and said sheets have the sections thereonpositioned immediately beneath the transparent actuators when they areplaced in juxtaposition with said switches.

28. Means as claimed in claim 27 in which said actuators are magnifyinglenses.

29. Means as claimed in claim 21 in which said switches are pressuresensitive switches, and said keyboard has means thereon for positioningsaid sheets one at a time over said switches, whereby finger pressure byan operator on the sheet over the switches is sufficient to actuateswitches corresponding to the sections on the sheets.

30. Means as claimed in claim 29 in which said are attached to eachother in the form of a booklet.

1. A means for storing, retrieving and reproducing individual charactersin a large number of characters, comprising a plurality of sheets equalto a number of relatively large groups of the characters in which groupsthe characters are according to the frequency with which the charactersare used, each sheet having a plurality of sections arranged thereon andeach section having a relatively small number of characters therein eachhaving a common characteristic, a keyboard having thereon a firstplurality of switches equal in number to the number of sheets, a secondplurality of switches equal in number to the number of sections andarranged on said keyboard in the same arrangement as said sections arearranged on said sheets, and a third plurality of switches equal innumber to the number of characters in a section and arranged on saidkeyboard in the same arrangement as said characters are arranged in saidsections on said sheets, means for placing said sheets in juxtapositionwith said second plurality of switches with the sections on the sheetsin positions corresponding to the positions of said switches, meansconnected to the respective switches for generating a signal when therespective switches are actuated, whereby a signal representative of afile system number including the group, the section and the poSition ofthe character in each section for the characters on the sheets isgenerated when switches for the respective group, section and positionfor each character are actuated, a storage means for storing code unitsrepresentative of the characters according to a file system in whicheach code unit is assigned the corresponding file system number, accessand retrieval means coupled between said signal generating means forsaid switches and storage means for gaining access to said storage meansand retrieving the code units for characters corresponding to the filesystem numbers from said signal generating means, and characterrepresenting means coupled to said access and retrieval means forreceiving therefrom the code units for the retrieved characters andrepresenting the characters in visible form.
 2. Means as claimed inclaim 1 in which there are four sheets and four switches in said firstplurality of switches, and 15 characters in each section and 15 switchesin said third plurality of switches.
 3. Means as claimed in claim 1 inwhich the characters are Chinese characters, and there are four groupsof characters and four switches in said first plurality of switches,there are 160 sections and 160 switches in said second plurality ofswitches, and there are 15 characters in each section and 15 switches insaid third plurality of switches.
 4. Means as claimed in claim 3 inwhich the sections on said sheets are arranged in subgroups according tothe Chinese phonetic alphabet.
 5. Means as claimed in claim 4 in whichthe areas of the sheets occupied by the subgroups of sections aredifferent colors.
 6. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which said sheetsare connected together in a continuous length, and means beneath saidkeyboard for moving said continuous length beneath said keyboard forpositioning sheets beneath the keyboard, said switches in said firstplurality being coupled to said moving means for controlling said movingmeans for moving the length to position the sheet corresponding to therespective switches beneath the keyboard according to which switch isactuated, said keyboard having transparent portions corresponding toeach switch for viewing the sections on the respective sheets throughthe keyboard.
 7. Means as claimed in claim 6 in which said switches havetransparent actuators as a part thereof, and said sheets have thesections thereon positioned immediately beneath the transparentactuators when they are placed in juxtaposition with said switches. 8.Means as claimed in claim 7 in which said actuators are magnifyinglenses.
 9. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which said switches arepressure sensitive switches, and said keyboard has means thereon forpositioning said sheets one at a time over said switches, whereby fingerpressure by an operator on the sheet over the switches is sufficient toactuate switches corresponding to the sections on the sheets.
 10. Meansas claimed in claim 9 in which said switches have lights therein andsaid sheets are opaque, whereby light from the switches can shinethrough the sheet when a switch is actuated by pressure on the sheet.11. Means as claimed in claim 9 in which said positioning means on saidkeyboard comprises a U-shaped channel frame around the sides and bottomof the keyboard for receiving the sheets.
 12. Means as claimed in claim9 in which said sheets are individual sheets which are held by saidpositioning means one at a time.
 13. Means as claimed in claim 9 inwhich said sheets are attached to each other in the form of a booklet.14. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which said storage means stores codeunits which are representations of the characters in discrete form on amatrix of grid points.
 15. Means as claimed in claim 14 in which thecode units are hexidecimal forms of binary digitalized discretecharacters, and said access and retrieval means comprises means forconverting the code units from the hexidecimal form to The binary form.16. Means as claimed in claim 14 in which the character representingmeans is a matrix printer.
 17. Means as claimed in claim 16 in whichsaid matrix printer comprises means for printing dots on a matrix gridof twenty by twenty-four grid points, and said code units received fromsaid access and retrieval means are binary digitalized discretecharacters on a matrix of twenty by twenty-four grid points which can beprinted by said matrix printer.
 18. Means as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising a buffer storage means coupled between said access andretrieval means and said character representing means for storing codeunits and control means on said keyboard coupled to said buffer storagemeans for feeding stored code units to said character representing meansunder control of said control means.
 19. Means as claimed in claim 1 inwhich said character representing means comprises a cathode ray typedisplay device.
 20. Means as claimed in claim 1 in which said characterrepresenting means comprises a cathode ray type display device, coupledto said access and retrieval means, a matrix printer, a buffer storagemeans coupled between said access and retrieval means and said matrixprinter, and control means on said keyboard coupled to said bufferstorage means for controlling the buffer storage means to feed storedcode units to said matrix printer.
 21. A means for generating signalscorresponding to file system numbers for character in a large number ofcharacters, comprising a plurality of sheets equal to a number ofrelatively large groups of the characters in which groups the charactersare according to the frequency with which the characters are used, eachsheet having a plurality of sections arranged thereon and each sectionhaving a relatively small number of characters therein each having acommon characteristic, a keyboard having thereon a first plurality ofswitches equal to the number of sheets, a second plurality of switchesequal to the number of sections and arranged on said keyboard in thesame arrangement as said sections are arranged on said sheets, and athird plurality of switches equal in number to the number of charactersin a section and arranged on said keyboard in the same arrangement assaid characters are arranged in said sections on said sheets, means forplacing said sheets in juxtaposition with said second plurality ofswitches with the sections on the sheets in positions corresponding tothe positions of said switches, and means connected to the respectiveswitches for generating a signal when the respective switches areactuated, whereby a signal representative of a file system numberincluding the group, the section and the position of the character ineach section for the characters on the sheets is generated when switchesfor the respective group, section and position for each character areactuated.
 22. Means as claimed in claim 21 in which there are foursheets and four switches in said first plurality of switches, andfifteen characters in each section and fifteen switches in said thirdplurality of switches.
 23. Means as claimed in claim 21 in which thecharacters are Chinese characters, and there are four groups ofcharacters and four switches in said first plurality of switches, thereare 160 sections and 160 switches in said second plurality of switches,and there are 15 characters in each section and 15 switches in saidthird plurality of switches.
 24. Means as claimed in claim 23 in whichthe sections on said sheets are arranged in subgroups according to theChinese phonetic alphabet.
 25. Means as claimed in claim 24 in which theareas of the sheets occupied by the subgroups of sections are differentcolors.
 26. Means as claimed in claim 21 in which said sheets areconnected together in a continuous length, and means beneath saidkeyboard for moving said continuous length beneath said keyboard forpositioning sheets beneath the keyboard, said switches in saiD firstplurality being coupled to said moving means for controlling said movingmeans for moving the length to position the sheet corresponding to therespective switches beneath the keyboard according to which switch isactuated, said keyboard having transparent portions corresponding toeach switch for viewing the sections on the respective sheets throughthe keyboard.
 27. Means as claimed in claim 26 in which said switcheshave transparent actuators as a part thereof, and said sheets have thesections thereon positioned immediately beneath the transparentactuators when they are placed in juxtaposition with said switches. 28.Means as claimed in claim 27 in which said actuators are magnifyinglenses.
 29. Means as claimed in claim 21 in which said switches arepressure sensitive switches, and said keyboard has means thereon forpositioning said sheets one at a time over said switches, whereby fingerpressure by an operator on the sheet over the switches is sufficient toactuate switches corresponding to the sections on the sheets.
 30. Meansas claimed in claim 29 in which said switches have lights therein andsaid sheets are opaque, whereby light from the switches can shinethrough the sheet when a switch is actuated by pressure on the sheet.31. Means as claimed in claim 29 in which said positioning means on saidkeyboard comprises a U-shaped channel frame around the sides and bottomof the keyboard for receiving the sheets.
 32. Means as claimed in claim29 in which said sheets are individual sheets which are held by saidpositioning means one at a time.
 33. Means as claimed in claim 29 inwhich said sheets are attached to each other in the form of a booklet.